Translation and Interpreter Services

South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has translation and interpreter services available for applicants and recipients of covered SCDES services and members of the public for public hearings. If you speak a language other than English or need alternate means of communication, such as sign language or large print, please notify the staff at your SCDES local office, a representative from the program you are seeking services from, or the contact person listed on the Agency's Public Notice. If there are any problems in obtaining the requested services, please notify the Compliance Office at compliance@des.sc.gov or at (803) 898-3944.

Nondiscrimination

SCDES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or sex in administration of its programs or activities. SCDES does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 CFR Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.

The SCDES Compliance Office is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning nondiscrimination requirements implemented by 40 CFR Parts 5 and 7 (Nondiscrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal nondiscrimination laws).

If you have any questions about this notice or any of SCDES’s nondiscrimination programs, policies, or procedures you may contact:

Kayla David, Compliance Officer
SCDES Compliance Office
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Email: compliance@des.sc.gov
Phone: (803) 898-3944 

Discrimination Complaint Process

SCDES does not discriminate in service delivery on the bases of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or sex as required by applicable state and federal laws and regulations.  

SCDES employees and those representing SCDES shall not intimidate, threaten, harass, coerce, discriminate against, or otherwise retaliate against anyone who has filed a complaint of alleged discrimination or who has been part of a complaint investigation. 

Complaint Process

1. Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination as detailed above, or based on the denial of interpretation or translation services, may file a complaint with the SCDES Compliance Office. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged discrimination.
2. Complete an SCDES Discrimination Complaint Form (D-2780) (Formulario de reclamo por discriminación (D-2780)) or provide the following information in as much detail as possible:
   1. The name of the person filing the complaint - If completing the form for someone else, please include your name and the complainant’s name.
   2. Contact information for the person filing the complaint. If completing the form for someone else, please include your contact information and the complainant’s contact information. If we cannot reach you, please provide the contact information for an alternative authorized individual (if possible).
   3. The basis of the allegation (e.g., race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sex).
   4. Date of the incident
   5. Location of the incident
   6. Description of the incident
   7. Name(s) of the employee(s) involved in the incident (if applicable)
   8. Names of the SCDES program or service involved (if applicable)
3. Submit the completed Discrimination Complaint Form or other written information as detailed above to the Non-Discrimination Coordinator:
   1. Mail: Kayla David, SCDES Compliance Officer | 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201
   2. Email: compliance@des.sc.gov
4. Complaints also may be taken via telephone at (803) 898-3944.
5. The Compliance Office will respond to the complaint within thirty (30) calendar days and will take reasonable steps to resolve the matter. The complainant may be contacted for more information.  
6. At the conclusion of the Compliance Office’s investigation, the complainant will be notified of the summary of the allegations, findings, and any action(s) to be taken.  

Additional Information

In addition to the process above, a person may choose to file a complaint with the following federal agency:

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
Office of the Assistant Attorney General
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Phone: (202) 514-4609

Anonymous complaints will be handled in the same manner as any other complaints to the extent feasible based on the information provided. SCDES may choose not to accept anonymous complaints of discrimination, but instead may choose to evaluate the concerns raised as a compliance or program matter. SCDES will seek technical assistance from the appropriate federal agency before it chooses not to accept an anonymous complaint.

The Compliance Office reviews this discrimination complaint process on an annual basis to ensure the intended purpose of the process is met.